Computer Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
I have a pet bunny!
Growing up, I often acted as a translator at in-person bill payments, parent-teacher conferences, or any other spaces where my mainly Spanish-speaking family didn’t feel comfortable communicating in English.
As the reserved, timid kid I was, I was terrified to talk to adults and translate from Spanish to English and vice versa. My parents also had a booth at the Flea Market for several years, where I had to negotiate prices with our customers and quickly learned the English words for the various tools my dad sold, truly pushing myself outside my comfort zone.
As technology advanced, I found relief in being able to pay our family’s bills through online portals, avoiding the need to translate back and forth. Then, in high school, I took technology electives, printed my first “Hello, World!” and coded my first HTML/CSS static webpage. I was fascinated by the idea that I could create anything by learning how to code. I also realized I could simplify daily tasks or come up with solutions using technology. After working on a few more projects in high school, I knew I wanted to major in Computer Science.
Summer 2024, I worked in a Code+ team at Duke to create a website that queries network data from cybersecurity research labs. Now, as a sophomore at Duke, I’m part of identity-based computing/STEM organizations like D++ (Colorstack@Duke) and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). I’m also a fellow of the Penny Pilgram George Women's Leadership Initiative (PPGWLI), where I work in small groups on women-related concerns in the Durham community, and I participate in SPIRE. Outside of Duke, I volunteer with Notable Narratives as a college preparation mentor for first-gen, low-income students, and I facilitate high school chapters for the Hispanic Organization Promoting Education (HoPe). In my spare time, I enjoy vlogging, photography, music, and watching k-dramas.
Seeing a SPIRE fellow while I’m walking to class or grabbing food at WU always brightens my day. There are always events and opportunities to bond with one another, whether through activities or sharing some food. The SPIRE community is incredibly welcoming and supportive. I genuinely love being part of it!
